Specifications

Glossary
948 Fabric OS Version 3.1.x/4.1.x Reference Guide
Beginning Running Disparity
The disparity at the transmitter or receiver when the special character associated with an ordered
set is encoded or decoded.
See also disparity.
BER
Bit Error Rate. The rate at which bits are expected to be received in error. Expressed as the ratio of
error bits to total bits transmitted.
See also error.
BISR
Built-In Self Repair. Refers to the range of algorithms and circuit techniques to replace fault
elements in a VLSI circuit with redundant fault-free ones.
See also BIST, CMBISR.
BIST
Built-In Self Test. The technique of designing circuits with additional logic which can be used to
test proper operation of the primary (functional) logic.
See also BISR, CMBISR.
Bit Synchronization
See BER.
Blade
See 16-port card.
Blind-mate Connector
A two-way connector used in some switches to provide a connection between the motherboard and
the power supply.
Block
As applies to Fibre Channel, upper-level application data that is transferred in a single sequence.
Blower Assembly
A fan that prevents a switch (or individual elements within a switch) from overheating.
Boot Flash
Flash memory that stores the boot code and boot parameters. The processor executes its first
instructions from boot flash. Data is cached in RAM.